Expander size for .308?

[dbaird]

What size expander do you experts use when loading a .308?

 

[Straightshooter1]

What size expander do you experts use when loading a .308?

I typically use a .3065 expander mandrel (no expander ball in the sizing die).

My Forster FL sizing die has been honed to .332 that I use on my cases that have the necks turned to .0140". And since I anneal my cases after every firing, there's not much springback.

Hope that picture is clear enough.

 

[dbaird]

I typically use a .3065 expander mandrel (no expander ball in the sizing die).

My Forster FL sizing die has been honed to .332 that I use on my cases that have the necks turned to .0140". And since I anneal my cases after every firing, there's not much springback.

Hope that picture is clear enough.

Where did you find a .3065 expander?

 

[Straightshooter1]

Where did you find a .3065 expander?

Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel Kits (Caliber Specific Expander Mandrel: 30Cal. Kit)

21stcenturyinnovation.com

 

[Jdne5b]

Where did you find a .3065 expander?

PMA and Holland has them in carbide that works really well too.

 

[Walt Krafft]

What is your application? Single load target rifles can be much lighter neck tension than ARs or hunting guns.

 

[dbaird]

PMA and Holland has them in carbide that works really well too.

Deer rifle

 

[L.Sherm]

What is your application? Single load target rifles can be much lighter neck tension than ARs or hunting guns.

I use .005 and .004 on my bolt hunting rifles that shoot really well, its what testing showed me anyway.

 

[L.Sherm]

If you use really good brass I e. Lapua , ADG don't be afraid to just use bushing only for desired nk tension has worked really well for me.

 

[memilanuk]

Deer rifle

Then don't bother. You likely won't see enough real-world improvement to make it worth the hassle.

But if you insist, I'd recommend getting the carbide neck turning mandrel from Sinclair's. The .30 cal version is 0.306", and being carbide, is forgiving of a lot of other sins as far as case neck prep goes. Fits in their expander mandrel die (or several others).

 

[L.Sherm]

Then don't bother. You likely won't see enough real-world improvement to make it worth the hassle.

But if you insist, I'd recommend getting the carbide neck turning mandrel from Sinclair's. The .30 cal version is 0.306", and being carbide, is forgiving of a lot of other sins as far as case neck prep goes. Fits in their expander mandrel die (or several others).

Well my testing with my hunting rifles at 665 yards tells me it is worth the hassle.

 

[Straightshooter1]

What is your application? Single load target rifles can be much lighter neck tension than ARs or hunting guns.

Target shooting with bolt gun, single feeding and mag feeding.

 

[memilanuk]

I think he was asking the OP, not the gen pop

 

[D-4297]

Depends on the application .
For a Bolt ; Hunting rifle , I would suggest at least .002 interference fit . .306 diameter .
For my own F-class Target rifle , my die sets the I.D. of the neck at .3065 -.307 , and I use a .3075 Carbide expander after that . In checking my Brass , which I do 100% , they run .307 - .3075 , but that half thousandths can also be variation in my hand pressure on the caliper . After using very high-dollar calipers for almost fifty years , nobodies perfect .

 

[ben-o]

I use the Sinclair steel expander mandrels. My 30 cal mandrel measures somewhere between .306-.307 with my cheap calipers, and I’ve never been tempted to try anything else. I’m loading for hunting rifles, not competition.